Preview Reports with AI-generated Test Data (WinForms Report Designer)

• Nov 11, 2025
• 4 minutes to read

Users can generate AI-powered test data to preview reports without connecting to a live data source directly within the WinForms Report Designer. Follow the instructions in this help topic to activate AI-generated Test Data in the Report Designer.

How It Works

Once AI-generated Test Data is activated, the Report Designer displays the Test Data tab. Click it to preview the report with AI-generated test data. The Report Designer requests data from an LLM and populates the report with meaningful values for preview.

Activate AI-powered Extension

Prerequisites

.NET8+ or NET Framework v4.7.2+

Install NuGet Packages

Install the following NuGet packages:

• DevExpress.AIIntegration.WinForms.Reporting
• DevExpress.Win.Design (activates design-time features for DevExpress WinForms UI controls in .NET projects)
• Microsoft.Extensions.AI.OpenAI (Version=”9.7.1-preview.1.25365.4”)

• Azure.AI.OpenAI (Version=”2.2.0-beta.5”)

  This help topic uses Azure OpenAI. See the following help topic for information about supported AI services and required NuGet packages: AI-powered Extensions.

See the following help topics for information on how to obtain the DevExpress NuGet Feed and install DevExpress NuGet packages:

• Choose Between Offline and Online DevExpress NuGet Feeds
• Install NuGet Packages in Visual Studio, VS Code, and Rider

Register AI Client

The following code snippet registers an Azure OpenAI client at application startup:

C#

using Azure.AI.OpenAI;
using DevExpress.AIIntegration;
using Microsoft.Extensions.AI;
using System.ClientModel;

internal static class Program {
    static string AzureOpenAIEndpoint { get { return "AZURE_OPENAI_ENDPOINT"; } }
    static string AzureOpenAIKey { get { return "AZURE_OPENAI_APIKEY"; } }
    static string DeploymentName { get { return "MODEL_NAME"; } } // For example, gpt-4.1.
    [STAThread]
    static void Main(){
        IChatClient client = new AzureOpenAIClient(
            new Uri(AzureOpenAIEndpoint),
            new ApiKeyCredential(AzureOpenAIKey))
                .GetChatClient(DeploymentName).AsIChatClient(); 
        AIExtensionsContainerDesktop.Default.RegisterChatClient(client);
        ApplicationConfiguration.Initialize();
        Application.Run(new Form1());
    }
}

VB.NET

Imports Azure.AI.OpenAI
Imports DevExpress.AIIntegration
Imports Microsoft.Extensions.AI
Imports System.ClientModel

Friend Module Program
    Private ReadOnly Property AzureOpenAIEndpoint() As String
        Get
            Return "AZURE_OPENAI_ENDPOINT"
        End Get
    End Property
    Private ReadOnly Property AzureOpenAIKey() As String
        Get
            Return "AZURE_OPENAI_APIKEY"
        End Get
    End Property
    Private ReadOnly Property DeploymentName() As String
        Get
            Return "MODEL_NAME"
        End Get
    End Property
        <STAThread>
        Sub Main()
        Dim client As IChatClient = (New AzureOpenAIClient(New Uri(AzureOpenAIEndpoint), New ApiKeyCredential(AzureOpenAIKey))).GetChatClient(DeploymentName).AsIChatClient()
        AIExtensionsContainerDesktop.Default.RegisterChatClient(client)
        ApplicationConfiguration.Initialize()
        Application.Run(New Form1())
        End Sub
End Module

Tip

How to Register OpenAI, Azure OpenAI, Ollama, and Semantic Kernel Clients.

Create and Configure Behavior Object

Follow the steps below to attach a Report Test Data Source Behavior to the WinForms Report Designer at design time:

1. Drop the BehaviorManager component from the Toolbox onto a Form that contains the WinForms Report Designer.

2. Invoke the BehaviorManager‘s smart tag menu and click Edit Behaviors to open the Behavior Collection Editor.

   Note

   In .NET Framework projects, click Register AI-powered Behaviors in the BehaviorManager‘s smart tag menu to add DevExpress AI-powered behaviors to the BehaviorManager.

3. Add a Report Test Data Source Behavior and specify its RowCount and Temperature settings.

   Setting	Description
   RowCount	Specifies the number of rows/records the AI service generates for the test data source.
   Temperature	Controls randomness in AI output and produces more deterministic results. Higher values increase variation. The default value is 0.

Create and Configure Behavior Object in Code

Drop the BehaviorManager component from the Toolbox onto a Form that contains the WinForms Report Designer control. Use the following code to register a ReportTestDataSourceBehavior and attach it to the WinForms Report Designer (reportDesigner1):

C#

using DevExpress.AIIntegration.WinForms.Reporting;

namespace DXAppReportsTestData {
    public partial class XtraForm1 : DevExpress.XtraBars.Ribbon.RibbonForm {
        public XtraForm2() {
            InitializeComponent();

            behaviorManager1.Attach<ReportTestDataSourceBehavior>(reportDesigner1, behavior => {
                behavior.Properties.Temperature = 0.3f;
                behavior.Properties.RowCount = 10;
            });

            reportDesigner1.OpenReport(new Report1());
        }
    }
}

VB.NET

Imports DevExpress.AIIntegration.WinForms.Reporting

Namespace DXAppReportsTestData
    Partial Public Class XtraForm1
        Inherits DevExpress.XtraBars.Ribbon.RibbonForm

        Public Sub New()
            InitializeComponent()

            behaviorManager1.Attach(Of ReportTestDataSourceBehavior)(reportDesigner1,
                Sub(behavior)
                    behavior.Properties.Temperature = 0.3F
                    behavior.Properties.RowCount = 10
                End Sub)

            reportDesigner1.OpenReport(New Report1())
        End Sub
    End Class
End Namespace

Note

Call the BehaviorInitializer.Initialize() method at application startup if your project targets the .NET Framework and you create AI-powered behaviors in code. Otherwise, an exception is thrown.

internal static class Program {
    [STAThread]
    static void Main() {
        //...
        // The Initialize() method forcibly initializes the behavior manager in .NET Framework apps.
        DevExpress.AIIntegration.WinForms.Reporting.BehaviorInitializer.Initialize();
        Application.Run(new Form1());
    }
}